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EspañolCuban officials detained at least 55 activists from the opposition group Ladies in White this last Sunday, July 16, marking the 108th-consecutive weekend the group has experienced some form of repression, according to politician Ángel Moya.
The Ladies in White are a civil protest movement dedicated to uniting the wives and other female relatives of Cuban political prisoners. The opposition group is constantly being repressed by the island’s government.
However, as the politician explained, activists from opposition groups were not the only ones detained this weekend: Human rights advocates who were planning to participate in the campaign “We All March for the Freedom of Political Prisoners” were also arrested.
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“They wanted to detain, arrest and imprison the Ladies in White and other activists who tried to congregate at their headquarters or attend church in Santa Rita on Sunday to participate in the Sunday mass,” Moya explained.
Seventeen of the arrests took place in the Cuban capital of Havana, while two arrests were reported in Villa Clara, 10 in Palma Soriano, seven in Bayamo and 19 in Matanzas.
“Since Thursday morning, the combined forces of the State Security Department, the National Police and elements of the Rapid Action Brigade began to besiege their headquarters, cutting off main access routes,” Moya said.
On the other hand, Iván Hernández Carrillo, Secretary General of the Independent Trade Union Association of Cuba tweeted about the arrests in the province of Matanzas.
#Cuba arrestan a mi madre la @DamasdBlanco Asunción Carrillo camino a lglesia d #Colón para orar x libertad d presos políticos @karenonmarti pic.twitter.com/4Qgrga6E7S
— Iván Hdez Carrillo?? (@ivanlibre) July 17, 2017
Ivan Hdez Carrillo
@Ivanlibre
#Cuba authorities arrest my mother the #DamasdBlanco member Asunción Carrillo on her way to church in #Colon to pray for the release of political prisoners #Karenmarti
#CubaDecide también arrestadas n #Colón ls @DamasdBlanco Maritza Acosta y Tania Echevarria para impedirle acudir a la Iglesia @karenonmarti
— Iván Hdez Carrillo?? (@ivanlibre) July 17, 2017
Ivan Hdez Carrillo
@Ivanlibre
#CubaDecide Also arrested in in #Colon was #DamasdBlanco members Maritza Acosta and Tania Echevarria to prevent them going to church #Karenmarti
#Cuba arrestan a la @DamasdBlanco Caridad Burunate al salir d su casa para impedirle ir a misa n #Colón #Mtz ¡Liberen a ls presos políticos! pic.twitter.com/e2y760uaxx
— Iván Hdez Carrillo?? (@ivanlibre) July 17, 2017
Ivan Hdez Carrillo
@Ivanlibre
#Cuba authorities arrest #DamasdBlanco member Caridad Burunate as she was leaving her house to prevent her going to church. in#Colon #Mtz Free political prisoners!
#CubaDecide arrestadas este domingo n #LosArabos ls @DamasdBlanco Mayelin Brave,Yailin Mondeja y Confesora d la Torre @karenonmarti
— Iván Hdez Carrillo?? (@ivanlibre) July 17, 2017
Ivan Hdez Carrillo
@Ivanlibre
#CubaDecide arrested this Sunday in # LosAraberes were #DamasdBlanco members Mayelin Brave, Yailin Mondeja, and Confessora de la Torre #Karenmarti
The opposition group has called on Pope Francis to intervene on the Castro dictatorship’s repressive policies regarding freedomof speech and religion.
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